Iran on the verge of granting N-fuel production license

Wednesday, Apr 29, 2009

The Deputy Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Abdullah Solatsana said on Tuesday that Iran will be able to give license to other countries for nuclear fuel production if it completes nuclear knowledge and draw up the required standard successfully.

In an interview with Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA), Solatsana said the required fuel for Iran's Arak 40-megawatt research plant is locally produced without any license of a foreign country.

The AEOI is drawing up national standards for nuclear fuel production, he said adding Iran employs standards of the US, China, Russia, Japan and France for the production of fuel.

He continued Iran is making efforts its standards cover global standards.

Elsewhere, he said Iran's Isfahan Fuel Manufacturing Plant (FMP) is able to make the required fuel assemblies for Arak nuclear facility in 2009.

Iran is now working on the procedure of nuclear fuel production including expansion of capabilities, decreasing its expenses and optimizing the methods, Solatsana said noting the country has got access to nuclear fuel knowledge and is trying to complete it.

The FMP, run on April 9, is the latest stage of nuclear fuel cycle which was completed successfully by Iran.

Arak all home-made nuclear facility needs some 150 fuel assemblies and according to AEOI Spokesman, Mohsen Delaviz, it will be launched in 2011.